Fate of polar bears seen to depend on emissions cuts

By John Acher

OSLO (Reuters) - Global warming is threatening polar bears as it melts their icy Arctic habitat, Norway's environment minister said on Monday.

"If the ice is disintegrating in the Arctic, it will have enormous impact on polar bears," Environment and Development Minister Erik Solheim told reporters on the eve of a meeting to discuss the future of the huge white carnivore.

The meeting is the first since 1981 to bring together states which are home to polar bears -- Norway, Russia, Canada, the United States and Danish-administered Greenland.

"Clearly the main point in a rescue plan for the polar bear is to reduce global warming," Solheim said.

The world's polar bear population is estimated at 20,000-25,000 animals, with 2,200-4,000 belonging to the Barents Sea population of Norway and northwestern Russia.

Polar bears spend most of their lives on or near sea ice. Though they are excellent swimmers, they are no match in the water for seals, their main prey, so they must hunt on ice floes.

Solheim said it was very helpful that the United States under former President George W. Bush put the polar bear on the list of endangered species.

"We should build on that to see what we can do to protect the polar bears," he said.